Bed sheet drying post



Sept. 16, 1958 F. SEEBERG BED sx-uzs'r DRYING POST Filed June 5, 1955 INV EN TOR. M web zy United States Patent BED SHEET DRHNG POST FriedaSeeberg, Libertyville, Ill.

Application June 3, 1955, Serial No. 512,979

3 Claims. (Cl. 211-45) This invention relates to a bed sheet drying postwhich is used in/combination with similar posts to stretch and drysheets, bedspreads, draperies, etc., in the open air, aid to thecombination of said posts and a frame for drying sheets and the likeinside a building.

Applicants principal object is to provide a simple drying apparatus foruse in a yard. Applicant seeks to avoid the use of the large frame. Oneof the features of this invention is the provision of a post which canbe pressed into the ground and which has a vertical tier of holdingelements for fabrics. With three other similar posts, sheets may bestretched from their four corners, the posts being positioned in theground in a rectangle approximating the size of the sheet to bestretched.

The first specific object of this invention is to stretch horizontallyat waist height or less a wet sheet. A dry sheet weighs approximatelyone pound, and after being whirled dry may still carry several pounds ofwater, Stretching a wet sheet over a line six feet above the ground isvery burdensome for many women. A feature of the present invention isthe stretching of a sheet in a horizontal plane a few inches above theground. Additionally, sheets hanging vertically are whipped by strongwinds, which have comparatively little elfect when engaging the edge ofa sheet stretched horizontally.

A second specific object of this invention is to provide means forholding a plurality of sheets in spaced relationship so that the breezemay pass between them. An ordinary curtain stretcher can be used tostretch sheets, but women do not place more than one or two lacecurtains on a stretcher at a time, and because of the closeness of theweave, it is impractical to place more than one sheet on a curtainstretcher at a time. The result is that sheets are not dried on curtainstretchers. A feature of applicants invention is the provision of holdigmeans for individual sheets which are spaced vertically from one anotherso that a plurality of sheets may be stretched horizontally one abovethe other.

Another object of this invention is to eliminate a stretching frame.Drying sheets on a stretching frame is more work than drying them on aline. Moreover, the stretching frame has to be carried from the garageor basement and set up. A feature of applicants invention is theprovision of four separate identical posts, each of which has prongs forinsertion into the ground, and which a woman may erect in Whateverspaced relation is required for the size sheet or drapery that she maywish to dry. The holding elements are spaced along the side of the postand when she places the posts in the ground, these holding elements arefaced toward each other.

Another object of this invention is to hold the sheets without damagingtheir weave. In curtain stretchers, steel nails having inch diameterstems are provided over which the curtain is stretched. vThe weave ofcurtains is usually coarse. In the case of sheets, the weave is veryclose, 60, 70, 80, to the inch. A inch nail so spreads the threads thatan opening remains. One of the features of this invention is theprovision of a sponge rubber surface of substantial area on the face ofone of the jaws for griping the sheet and holding it. A fine nail may beused in the other jaw as a starter, but tension is not applied to thesheet until after the sponge rubber jaw has been tightly clamped on thesheets surface.

Still a further object of this invention is to provide a frame which maybe used in places where one cannot push the posts into the ground, asfor example, a basement or paved court yard. A feature of the inventionis the provision of a frame of fixed length but variable width which hasfour holding elements for the bottom of the posts. The frame provides nomeans for holding any kind of a fabric.

These and such other objects as may hereinafter appear are attained inthe embodiment of the invention shown in the accompanying drawings,wherein:

Figure 1 is a perspective View of four of applicants posts mounted inthe earth and holding four sheets;

Figure 2 is an enlarged perspective view of one of applicants posts;

Figure 3 is a full-size front elevation of the wood clamp for holdingthe fabric to be stretched; and,

Figure 4 is a perspective view of one-half of the frame with one postholder in position.

Continuing to refer to the drawings, the numeral 10 identifies a portionof an unpaved yard, that is, dirt usually covered with grass. Fourstretcher posts such as 12 have been positioned by pressing them intothe ground at spaces such that the length dimension 20 and spaced by twoor three inches from each other so that the wind blows between them.Sheets for adult beds are usually nine feet long, so that the posts onopposite sides of the length of a sheet Will be spaced apart to retainthe sheets taut in the manner shown in' Fig. 1. The width of sheetsvaries, and the housewife will, therefore, move the far posts closer toor farther from the near posts to accommodate the particular width sheetshe wishes to dry.

The height of a four-clamp post when positioned in the ground is abouteighteen inches, with the lowermost clamp clearing the ground by aboutsix inches. When using, the housewife attaches one corner of a sheet tothe first post, i. e., 18, without letting the sheet touch the ground.She then runs one edge to the next post and so on around. She uses thelowest level of clamps first. After the first sheet is stretched, it isless difficult to keep the next sheet off of the ground. While the postsshown have only four tiers of clamps, it will be appreciated that byheightening the posts, more clamps may be provided. Applicant does findthat it is not wise to place the clamps closer than two inches apart.

In drying, there will be some sag, and it is desirable that the sheetsnot touch each other. Two inches is about the minimum allowance to takecare of irregular sag. Even with two inches, in a breeze the sheets willflap against each other.

Examining now one of applicants posts, and referring to Figure 2, thebase of the post is a tranverse iron bar 30 to the opposite ends ofwhich are welded the ends of tines 32 and 34. Fastened by any suitablemeans, in this case long screws, to the first bar 30 is a Wood post 36.This post is centered on the iron bar 30 so that one may place ones footon the ledge 38 or the ledge 40 for driving the tines 32 and 34 into theground. Transversely through a hole 41 in the top of the post andparallel to the length of the iron bar 30 is a wooden pin 42 whichprovides hand grips on both sides of the post to facilitate insertioninto the ground.

The numeral 44 generally identifies one of the fabric holding clamps. Asillustrated in Figure '2, the lowest 1 3 clamp 46 is positioned aboutsix inches above the transverse bar 30. The remaining clamps are spacedtwo and one-half inches apart. While only four are shown, the post couldbe made higher and the number of clamps increased. If stooping is deemedundesirable, the lowermost clamp could be positioned eighteen totwenty-four inches above the transverse bar and the post suitablylengthened.

The design of applicants clamp is of importance because of its operatingsimplicity and the fact that it is made principally of wood. The clampconsists essentially of two separate wood jaws 48 and 50. The jaw 48 isa rectangular block which is fastened by suitable means into ahorizontal notch 52 in the post 12. Projecting upwardly from the jaw 48is one (or more) short rustproof pin 54. Extending through and upwardlyfrom the block 48 is a bolt over the upper end of which is fastened thejaw 44. This jaw 44 is movable along the bolt 60 and can be clamped downby means of a single nut 62.

While the wood jaw 44 if brought against the pin 54 will hold a sheet inposition, it is important that the real holding be not done by the pinbecause in a strong wind the pin may tear a sheet. To the bottom of thejaw 44 is 'affixed a sponge rubber face 64. When the jaw 44 is clampeddown on a sheet 22, as indicated by the dotted line position 66 inFigure 3, the sponge rubber does the holding. If the stretching is doneproperly, there need never be any pull on the pin. When the initialcorner is clamped, there is no pull. When the housewife reaches thesecond clamp, if she continues to hold the corner after impaling it overthe pin, while tightening down the set screw 62, the sponge rubber willtake over the holding when the hand releases and not the pin. Indeed,applicants clamp works satisfactorily without the pin.

The posts as thus far described when mounted as shown in Figure 1 willattain the first three objects of this invention.

The last object, namely, to make the posts useful all year round and inplaces where it is not possible to force the tines into the ground, isattained by the frame 70 in Figure 4.

The frame 7|) is rectangular. Each of its long sides consists of two 3x1A" boards 72 and 74 which are about five feet long and joined by a hinge'76. The width members of the frame each consist of two boards of likecross section, 78 and 80, which have complementary tongues 82 and 84with alignable horizontal holes such as 86 and 88 through which a pin 90may be passed so as to alter the overall length of the two end members78 and 80. Each of the two end members 78 and 80 are removably joined tothe longitudinal member 70 by reducing the thickness dimension by halfto form a tongue 92 to underlie a similar tongue 94 on the longitudinalmember. The two are held together by a single nut.

The devices mounted on the frame for holding the posts will be calledpost sockets, and they consist of two wire straps 96 and 98 which fitover the wood frame member 78 and are welded to a rectangular wire frameL00. The height of this frame 100 equals the length of the tines 32 and34 of Figure 2. Welded to the outer vertical edges of the frame 100 arestiff helixes 102 and 104 which have an inside diameter sufficient toreceive the tines 32 and 34. Because these post sockets are fastened toheavy wires 96 and 98, a pull by a sheet from a position two feet abovethe frame will cant the wires and keep them from slippinglongitudinally. On the other hand, these wires slide fairly easily alongthe frame member 78. They provide a Woman with a second width adjustmentfor the frame. There are some situations where she does not wish to goto the trouble to reset pin 90. She can slide the post socket alongframe member 78 quite easily.

The housewife can erect this frame on a basement floor, drop the fourposts into four sockets, and proceed as heretofore described as tostretching sheets in the yard.

The various features of this invention make it practical to stretchsheets as contrasted with curtains. Sheets are a weekly task and dryingone sheet at a time on a curtain stretcher is wholly impractical.Moreover, the nails damage the close weave of sheets. Applicants devicemakes it possible to handle a plurality of sheets at one time and toadjust for different sizes very quickly. An important advantage residesin the fact that the sheets need not be ironed.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim is:

1. In combination with a rectangular frame and with four drying postseach having a plurality of clamps mounted lengthwise along one sidethereof, and each having two tines mounted on one end of the post andextending parallel thereto away from the row of clamps, a socketassembly comprising means for gripping a member of the rectangular frametogether with a pair of sleeve sockets spaced to receive the tines ofthe posts and hold them at right angles to the plane of the rectangularmember.

2. A drying post for supporting and retaining a corner of one or moresheets to be dried in a position substantially parallel to the ground,consisting of a transverse bar, a tine depending from said bar adjacenteach end thereof to be embedded and retained in the ground duringdrying, an upstanding polygonal wooden post rigidly anchored at itslower end to the upper portion and centrally of the bar, verticallyspaced and laterally projecting anchoring means on one face of said postwith each of said anchoring means receiving a corner of a sheet andholding it taut in a substantially horizontal plane while drying, and amember projecting through said post to provide laterally projecting handgrips adjacent its upper end, said hand grips when grasped by theoperator and pressure applied to the transverse bar by the operatorsfoot pressing and embedding the tines in the ground to anchor the postat the desired elevation.

3. Means for securely retaining the corners of one or more sheets to bedried with the sheets held in substantially horizontal planes,comprising a drying post embedded in the ground adjacent each corner ofsaid sheets, each of said drying posts consisting of a transverse bar,spaced depending tines projecting from said bar to be embedded in theground, an upstanding poly onal wooded post anchored at its lower endupon said bar, vertically spaced projections on one side of said woodenpost with each projection having means for securing thereon a corner ofa sheet and suspending said sheet in substantially horizontal positionfor drying, and lateral projections on said wooden post by which theoperator holds the drying post while applying pressure to the transversebar for forcing the tines into the ground, the vertically spacedprojections on said drying posts when the latter are embedded in theground extending inwardly toward a corner of the sheets to retain saidsheets taut.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS374,765 Waltman Dec. 13, 1887 526,490 lessen Sept. 25, 1894 685,974 CoteNov. 5, 1901 1,192,486 Young July 25, 1916 2,086,826 Smith July 13, 19372,360,432 MacKenzie Oct. 17, 1944 2,577,333 Klum Dec. 4, 1951 2,643,843Brown June 30, 1953 FOREIGN PATENTS 464,829 Italy July 23, 1951 UNITEDSTATES PATENT OFFICE (IERTIFICATE 0F 'CQREQTION Patent No, 2,852,142September l6,7 1958 Frieda Seeberg Column 1, line 16, for "aid" read meand column 2, line 1, for

"griping" read gripping column 4, line 49, for "Wooded" read Wooden aSigned and sealed this 25th day of November 1958,

SEAL) Attest:

KARL Ho AXLINE Commissioner of Patents

